How to move the whole army given a specific formation?

**MoKus** · 10-19-2018, 18:41

So I give specific formation to my army but formation changes when I move the whole. Is there anyway to keep the formation?

**Gilrandir** · 10-20-2018, 04:42

Originally Posted by MoKus

So I give specific formation to my army but formation changes when I move the whole. Is there anyway to keep the formation?

AFAIK, only units can have some formation, not the army. There is a button "hold formation" at the top of the screen, if you are speaking about units.

**Stazi** · 10-20-2018, 08:09

Originally Posted by MoKus

So I give specific formation to my army but formation changes when I move the whole. Is there anyway to keep the formation?

You can not only move the whole army in a formation but even rotate it around a chosen point, make it run or charge an masse. It's all about ctrl, alt and right mouse button but I haven't played MTW in a long time so I don't remember the exact combination. I strongly recommend to do the tutorial. IIRC it explains the whole thing really nicely.

**ReluctantSamurai** · 10-20-2018, 13:07

If memory serves, you can create unit groupings by holding the CTRL button, then clicking on individual units, and then pressing G. Groupings will be numbered, so you can select a group by simply selecting their number. You deselect the group by reversing the process. This is handy for bridge defenses, for example, when you want all of your archers/guns to fire at once.

CTRL+A selects the entire army. Depending on the army size and the type of terrain you are moving through, moving the entire army, in formation, has its' pluses and minuses. On flat terrain, the command works fairly well, but...cavalry will reach its position before the infantry, perhaps leaving them exposed...

It's usually a better idea to create several groups, and guide them across the battlefield to their destination. If conditions change, it's easy to break a grouping apart, and retask units as needed.

Right-click, hold + drag rotates selected units to the desired direction.

**MoKus** · 10-20-2018, 15:22

Thanks for your replies. My question was about how I can keep formation of my army when I move them.

**ReluctantSamurai** · 10-21-2018, 07:34

CTRL+A selects the entire army...then right-click/hold + drag (from left to right, IIRC...right to left reverses facing, although I might have those backwards).

I don't remember if the ALT + click works for the entire army like it does for a single unit (unit(s) march to designated spot that you clicked, facing the same direction...